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This Is Me--2019 A to Z Theme

The Challenge of 2019 was the 10th! Since this was kind of a milestone year for A to Z my theme was a retrospective of sorts, looking at my 10 years as a blogger as well as ruminations about my life as it is and as I hope it yet can be. I've got places to be and people to see along the way. Hope you'll join me for this part of my journey...

Always a work in progress--welcome to my blog.

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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Love and Ego (#IWSG)

Voting is still open on my Battle of the Bands post. If you have not visited yet to vote for your favorite recording please visit this post and let your preference be known. The song that I've used ties in with today's post as well as my Reflections Post yet to come.Insecure Writer's Support Group Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh'sInsecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog. Now What? Leon Russell's song "Manhattan Island Serenade" provides a good analogy to how I feel after an A to Z Challenge has ended. The narrator of the song talks about being broke down stuck along the roadside and thinking of recent loss. He reflects on where he's been and where he's going next. It's kind of the same way I feel and what I've read some of the other A to Z participants say they feel about the end of the Challenge. But it's a temporary feeling like we get any time we've had a rush of fullness in life and then it's gone leaving us with only memories. But enough reflecting for now. My official A to Z Reflections Post will appear on Tossing It Out coming on Monday May 9th. For more information about the Reflections Post be sure to visit the A to Z Challenge Blog. Today I want to consider some things ahead on my blog.Love and Ego

Most of you probably recall the story of Narcissus who gazed at his own reflection in the pool of water and fell in love with the image, which unobtainable to him eventually led to his demise. Narcissism is an exhaustive topic that cannot be addressed in a single blog post, however I raise the topic as an introduction to things to come onTossing It Out. During the month of April I began to ponder the concepts of love and ego and all things connected with these concepts. I meandered through many aspects of these things prompted by whatever I was absorbing in the media, on the internet, and all around me in general. It was one of those weird moods perhaps, but it led me to a number of questions. Why do we write? Why do we blog? Why do we do the things we do or find ourselves attracted to certain people? And in the end what does it all mean? Just asking, you know--just asking like most of us probably ask the universe at times. And specifically in regard to our writing and blogging, why do we choose the stories we tell and topics we explore and how do we make these things relevant to others? Sounds whimsical perhaps, and it is. But why not? Why not ask what, how, and why? Besides summer is coming and that's a time that I've always associated with daydreaming and thinking down the rabbit hole. Lazy days and crazy days. Vacations and recreations. Much of my recreation consists of thinking so that's what I plan to do even though thinking seems to be what I do much of the time anyway. After all summer is coming and with summer while I physically wander the country, my mind will be wondering about many things. This is always the case it seems. If we aren't questioning, then we must be lacking in awareness. Not thinking is not being alive. Maybe it's silly to ask the age old question "What is the meaning of life?" But then, why not ask the question? In asking we might find an answer. Or more likely we might give rise to more questions. Sometimes the questions never stop just as much of the time the answers never come. In any case, my theme in every post on Tossing It Out including my Battle of the Bands posts from now until I decide to stop will be "Love and Ego". Call me obsessed if you like. But then maybe Love and Ego is ultimately the only theme any of us ever writes about when it comes right down to the crux of all things. Do you ever ponder the mysteries of love and ego? Do you consider your actions to be mostly driven by ego, love, both, or something else entirely? Does the word "ego" have a negative connotation to you?

54 comments:

I write a blog, (a) for the companionship I get from fellow bloggers and (b) writing is a form of therapy to help with situations I may find myself in..Wonderful post Lee, have a great month of May.Yvonne.

Sometimes I think it's something beyond me that makes me write, of better yet, something ascribed to my DNA. I don't really feel there's a choice. Even when I stop, I always have to start again. Sounds like you have some intriguing music coming up.

Liza, the DNA theory is interesting. People do seem to be inclined toward certain things and it can be difficult to say why. I too feel a compulsion to write, but I don't now that I would ascribe it to DNA or something in my experience in growing up. Might be worth some researching.

Sounds intriguing, Arlee. Look forward to reading your thoughts. I write because there's nothing else I want to do. I've had several careers - all relatively successful - but with each one, I ended up being dissatisfied and somewhat unchallenged. Writing is challenging and even though some results are dissatisying, there is always something to do to make it better. Writing has no limits. That's why I'm here. I blog to meet like minded people.

Nicola, the careers that I've enjoyed most had some strong elements of creativity built into them and writing fits within that framework. Hope your writing efforts result in more satisfaction in the future, but it's good that you are where you are now.

I was thinking it was 42, but then I discovered that 42 is the "answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything", but we don't know the question. Or maybe Arlee does......................

Roland, if I knew the ultimate question I wouldn't be speculating as I am in this post. And if there were something that might be considered the "ultimate question" it would likely be only one of many. I'd better not think too much about this though or I'll get nothing done today and end up with my head hurting:)

Ego does have negative connotations even though we all have one. I guess if someone has to talk to you about your ego, then it's probably over-inflated or too easily hurt or some other bad thing. How to cultivate a healthy ego? That's an interesting question.

Without a sense of self-worth--maybe that should read, without loving one's self, I don't think we're capable of loving others. An over-blown ego has a negative connotation for me, but not a healthy one that says, "You're good and you should share some of that good with others."

I do tend to think about things like love and ego. As for my motivations, I guess it's both. I believe I (and anyone else, for that matter), deserve to do what they love for life. So almost everything I do is about making sure my life is one worth living.

Love and ego are both powerful motivators for many things; vocation (such as writing), competition, spiritual health and well-being, etc., though often it seems that one is taken for granted while the other is over-stuffed. I’ve always wondered why balancing the two should be so difficult. Maybe you’ll answer that question in your ponderings ;-)

When I think of ego, I mainly think of people with big over-the-top egos, cocky in nature. But the reality is we all have egos. It is the center of our self-esteem and our self-worth. We can have boosts to our ego (which make us feel better or important or simply noticed and acknowledged) or hits to our ego (when someone knocks us down a peg or two, as they say); we can have egos that offend people. I tend to think that my ego is in check. At least I hope it is.Freud's presentation of the ego, the id and the super-ego make for some fascinating reflection.

As to why I blog: I blog to share mainly. To share information, music, stories, inspirations and friendships. I wish I would use my blog to write more but I'm perpetually stalled in that department!

Michele, "ego" is one of those oft abused and misused words in our language. Ego is a part of all of use and shouldn't be used as a slur.

I consider writing on a blog to be writing. When I compose a post (or even a comment) I want to say something in writing and not just scribble mindless prattle. I have always seen something of substance on your blog. Substance doesn't always have to be deep, but as long as it is presentable word content that is readable and of interest to others then it's writing!

I've long believed everything in this life happens for a reason, and that if something happens, it was meant to have happened. So I predominantly believe our lives are driven on by Fate (to use a line from the opening of The Aeneid) and Divine Providence. I do believe free will exists alongside of predetermination, which sounds like such a paradox.

Carrie-Anne, I would say that I essentially believe along the same lines as you have indicated. We have a certain amount of control in our lives, but what happens happens and what has happened is the way it is meant to be. Paradox indeed and mind boggling when you start delving into it.

Why I blog - I blog because I enjoy sharing with my friends and making new friends in the process. Sometimes it's simply to share something that most of us already know, but I try to work in a detail or two that someone might not have known previously.

I equate ego with pride. Large, over the top egos usually mean someone is prideful. But you can have pride in your work and family, and still be quite humble.

Mary, it's funny about these words like "pride" as they can connote the very bad as well as the very good. It's a matter of context.

Good blogging is essentially like good conversation--either that or something like print media articles that are for the purpose of sharing information with others. For me, reading blogs has replaced reading the newspaper to a great extent.

In simplistic terms, I think "ego" is what pushes us on whatever path we have chosen, makes us care, gives us impetus. I also think it is the most destructive part of us, causes wars, causes alienation, causes lack of compassion for others. It is both the best and worst of us. And "love" has SO many meanings I wouldn't know where to begin on how I feel about that. What a great idea to blog on this... Thanks for stopping by my blog Lee!

Your questions are really great. I definitely ponder love and ego, narcissism and what the mix of all of it means. It's never fun with the narcissist mixes with its opposite. I have been there in life more times than I like to admit. In any case, I don't think ego is a bad term. It's probably an adjective attached to it that creates an emotional response for me. Thank you forYour questions and insights

I blog for many reasons, including to keep my brain active and resolve things in my life. It doesn't always work, but at least I also get to engage with a few more people than I interact with physically. Life in a wheelchair can be limited.

I put my little lawn chair outside in front of the door and soak up my 15 minutes or so of Vitamin D every day there's sunshine...and I use that time to think deep thoughts. Sometimes it's no more than how relaxed I feel when I pet the dog and wondering why...other times I try to get into my own head and memories to divine my purpose. Is there anyone who doesn't wonder why they're here and if there's something important they should be doing?

The reasons I do what I do, read what I read and write what I do are so many and change so often I could probably write a book on them.My absolute favorite reason and one that rarely changes is my love for connections that I make that become friendships and when something I write truly helps someone.

I sometimes get into a weird loop where I sit and ponder if I'm too self-centered and then wonder if pondering about that makes me even more self-centered. I mean, I want to be the best me I can be, and among that me-ness, I want there to be a selflessness about it, but by considering how to be more selfless, does that make me self-absorbed?

Honestly, though, I am narcissistic. I have no issues with saying, "Hey, I'm awesome," while smirking and shining my nails on my coat. Is it bad? No, but it could be.

'Ego' has the connotation of being bad, but really it's just how a person thinks about themselves. An ego is only bad if the person ONLY thinks about themselves, and think they are more important than anyone/anything else.As for the questions we ponder, I've often wondered what does attract one person to another. At times it seems we are attracted to those just like us, and other times we seem to find opposites attract. In addition to this, I've often wondered what the answer is to the ultimate question. Life, the Universe and Everything. After giving it much though, I've finally decided on something that makes sense and I think everyone can agree on. The answer to Life, the Universe and Everything has got to be 42.

Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.

For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.

If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.

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A juggler of words and phrases. My main blog is Tossing It Out. The focus blog for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge can now be found at a-to-zchallenge.com where updates will be posted until the event in April begins.
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A Few Words is my Sunday contemplation blog.
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